Two of the biggest clichés associated
with tourists is that all they want to do is eat and shop. Thankfully, due to
the amount of corporate visits, trips and classes we’ve had, our group has
successfully diversified our vacation. However, I have to admit that although
we have done all these cool things, the amount of shopping and eating we’ve
done cannot be overlooked.
Prior to the trip, I
was determined to find a Longchamp store because I knew the prices in Europe
are much less then United States prices. I was going to wait until we went to
Paris, but we were lucky enough to find a Longchamp store right in the Luxembourg
City Centre! The other girls and I were all able to purchase new tote bags for
only €75, while it retails
for $145 back in the states, so we were ecstatic. Surprisingly though, we have
not done any souvenir shopping just yet. The one time we tried to buy some
souvenirs, the rude owner kicked us out of the store because one member of our
group touched a bag of gummy bears. Stanislas also took us to Auchan, a giant
mall with some nice stores and places to get lunch. Although I did not buy
anything, it was just nice to walk around and enjoy the mall. I’m so happy to
see so many stores that I recognize from back home, especially H&M because
it is one of my favorites.
The food in Luxembourg has been manageable;
it hasn’t been completely awful although some meals we were served were very
unappetizing. The food at the hostel consists of bread for every meal, and
whatever the mystery meat of the day is. Unfortunately, I have yet to have a
normal or satisfying meal there. However, we have also had some amazing food around
the city. From quiches to croque monsieurs to macaroons, I have loved the
French style food that they serve in cafes around Luxembourg. Even simple
dishes that we have back in the United States are different here, such as pizza
and pastas. One thing from home that I miss most is the water, bottled and tap
water tastes very different in Luxembourg. At one point our group craved food
more familiar to them, so we had dinner at the Spanish chain restaurant, Chi
Chi’s.
One
thing we have yet to try is genuine local Luxembourgish cuisine. Many people
have told us that Mousel’s Canteen is the best place to get traditional foods,
and we keep saying we will go but never do. I am determined to have dinner
there before we leave, especially since I really want schnitzel.